Convertible railway-car.



No. 709,076. Patented Sept. l6, I902.

I s. BUCKNAMH CONVERTIBLE RAILWAY GAR.

A ucmon me Jan. 21. 1902.

(No Model.) '4 Sheets-Sheet I.

Wife/e668 W fnven/bbvf I lgmml enzmwm a g M W W 'No. 709,076.Patented-Sept. I6; I902.

' E. S. BUCKNAI VI.

CONVERTIBLE RAILWAY CAR.

(Application filed Jan. 21 1902.)

(No Model.)

- No. 709,076. Patented s' t. l6, |9o2.

E. s. BUGKNAM. CONVERTIBLE RAILWAY GAR.

(Application filed Jan. 21, 1902.) (No Model.) '4 Shgets-Sheet 3.

Wnwww fivnvaiw I lav w argenZiMmm No. 709,070. aunted se us, I902.

E. s. BUCKNAM..-:,-

CONVERTIBLE RAILWAY CAR.

(Application filed Jan. 21, 1002.

THE NORRIS warns cu. morauwou wnsumomu. n. c.

UNTTED STATES PATENT @FFICE.

EZRA SANGER BUCKNAll/I, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO JOHNA. BRILL, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

VCQNVERTIBLE RAILWAY-CAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 709,076, datedseptember 16, 1902.

Application filed January 21,1902. Serial No. 90,595. (No model.)

T (bZZ 1071,9711, it may concern:

Be it known that LEZRA SANGER B UCKNAM, acitizen of the United States,and a resident of the cityand county of Philadelphia, State i ofPennsylvania, (whose post-office address is care of the J. G. BrillCompany, in said city,) have inventedcertain new and useful Improvementsin Convertible RailWay-Cars, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has relation to cars especially adapted for street-railwayservice, in which the sides are provided with devices for converting thesame into either the open or closed form.

My invention has relation to that special class of convertible carswherein movable sashes or panels are adapted to be moved up or downbetween the car posts or stanchions and when raised tobe stored inpockets or recesses formed beneath the roof; and the present inventionresides in a construction wherein two or more separate panels or sashesor a sash and. a panel are employed, and wherein the roof spaces orpockets are provided with separate grooves for storing the sash andpanel separated from each other within said roof-pockets, and wherein asin gle groove is used in the post to guide the sash and panel in itsnp-and-down movement, and an automatically-operating switch 10- cated ator adjacent the point of junction of the pocket-grooves and post-groovefor switching the sash and panel into the separate grooves in thepockets when being raised and when being lowered to direct the sash antpanel into the single post-groove.

The invention also resides in the novel construction of the base-panel.

My invention also resides in the novel construction and combination ofparts hereinafter described, and finally pointed out in the claims. x

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a sideelevation of a portion of a carembodying my improvements in which thesash and panel in one side opening are shown lowered and in anotherraised.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation on the line or m,

Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a like'view on the line 11 y, 0 Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is asection on the line 0 d, Fig. Fig. 5 is an enlarged section on the linea b, Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of theupper part of the post at the switch. Fig. 7 is a detailed viewof theswitch, partlyin section; and Fig. 8, a side elevation thereof and apart of the post. Fig. 9 isa front elevation, enlarged, of the uppersash and an edge View thereof. Fig. 10 is a front elevation of thebase-panel andan edge view of the same; and Fig. llis an enlargedsectional view on the line of, Fig. 10.

As my invention does not relate to the specilic construction of the carto which I have applied my improvements, I desire to'have it noted thatI do not limit myself to the specific form shown herein, as it will beapparent that my improvement-s may be applied to cars of variousconstruction.

The car to which I have applied my improvements and which is hereinillustrated comprises a roofl, the carlines 2, the lower ventilator-rail3, (the car may be built up further,) the car-sill 4, flooring 5, andthe posts or stanchions 6 of the desired curveand dimensions. The postshave a curved and inwardly extending and transversely enlarged sectionor extension 7, horn-shaped, over which is laid the lower decking orroof 1, extending from the lower ventilator-rail at the top to theletter-hoard 8 at the bottom, which latter runs longitudinally along theside of the car, and interiorly the head-lining 9, extending from thecurtain-molding 10, located adjacent and above the lower edge of thelettenboard, (on the inside,) which latter defines the vertical limitsof the side opening in the car, (it being longitudinally defined by thedistance between the posts,) thehead-lining extending from thecurtain-molding to the lower ventilator-rail 3. The horn or transverseenlargement 7 of the posts between the inner and outer roof-sections,together with the roof-sections-viz., the decking and head-lining-formthe spaces 11, hereinafter termed roof spaces or pockets, which groove12 is continued along the post and. along the born or enlargement 7 upto the lower ventilator-rail, (the height of the basepanel regulatingthis,) preferably following the curving of the head-lining, Fig. 3, although this is not essential, whereas the inner and smaller groovel3'diverges from the larger groove as it enters the born or enlargementand extends upalong the face of the same substantially up to thecarlines 2, where it is expanded to permit easy working of the sash,following substantially the contour of the roof or upper decking l to orsubstantially to the lower ventilator-rail 3. In other words, the twogrooves, which are combined into one for a portion of the height of thepost, depending upon the relative heights of the sash and panel, divergeinto separate grooves at the point of entrance to and within the roofpockets or spaces, and at the point of divergence is located anautomatically-op: erated switch, the construction and purpose of whichwill be hereinafter described.

So far as my improvements relate to the diverging grooves and theswitch, any suitable or desired form of lower panel designed to give theappearance of permanency of construction of the car or otherwise may beemployed; but I prefer for many reasonsthe form of panel illustratedherein. Y

The lower or base panel 14 comprises the upper and lower cross members15 16, the upper one, 15, beingprovided with the handpulls 17, the lowerone with the spring-locks 13, adapted to engage the posts in the usualmanner. To the outer side of the cross pieces is secured at its top andbottom a sheet 19, which may be either of metal, fiber, or any otherdesired materiahpreferably of flexible metal, and on theinside islocated another and preferably similar flexible sheet 20 (both of whichare of self-supporting material) and which latter sheet is sec-u red atits upper edge to the top cross-piece 15, its lower edge freely enteringa longitudinal groove 21, formed in the upper edge of the bottomcross-piece 16, so as to permit the said lower edge to move up and downtherein. To stiffen both sheets transversely and for the further purposeof causing the sheets to more uniformly partake of the curvature of thepost-groove, I employ the transverse slats 22 23, interposed betweenboth of the sheets and secured to either one that is to say, all of theslats are not secured to both of the sheets, but may be secured toeither, or some to the inner and some to the outer. This latterconstruction I prefer.

By reference to Fig. 10 it will be noted that the slats 22 are securedin pairs to the outer sheet 19, their free edges abutting againsttheinner sheet 20, and between each of the pairs of slats 22 is locateda single slat 23,

fixed to the inner sheet 20, their free edges abutting against the outersheet 19.

While I prefer that the inner sheet may be loosely connectedwith thelower cross-piece, as illustrated, it may be loosely connected with theupper cross-piece andfixed to'the lower cross-piece, or it may beloosely connected to both the upper and lower crosspieces, in whichlatter case the sheet should be inserted deep enough into the groove orgrooves 21 to allow the sheet to curve with out withdrawing therefrom.In this Way a light, mechanical, and thoroughly flexible panel isproduced which will give an air of permanency of construction to thelower portion of the car and be sufficiently self-supporting andflexibleto permit its manipulation between the posts and to standordinary uses. Above the panel when the car is closed is located thesash 24, termed so because the same'is provided with glass panels 25 2G.The sash is made of two sections, the upper section 27 smallervertically than the lower section 28, each comprising the top and bottomcross-pieces '27 27 28 28 27 28, the

lower cross-piece 27 of the top section 27 and 1 the upper cross-piece28 of the lower section being hinged together by theinteriorly-placedhinges 29, the upper cross-pieces being pro vided with a rib and agroove 30 to make a Weather-tight connection. The lower section also hashand-pulls 31. The sash-sections are not as wide transversely as is thelower panel, and each 'section of the sash is provided withoutwardly-extending trunnions 32 33 34, the lower section 28 preferablyhaving two, 33 34, on each side of the upper and lower ends because ofits length, and the upper section with a single trunnion 32 on each sidepiece at the upper end. Immediately above the point of divergence of thetwo grooves 12 13, at the horn 35, formed on the post by suchdivergence, (or convergence,) is located the switch 36, the face of thepost being inset or recessed, as at 37, Fig. 8, to receivetheswitch andgive clearance for its operation. The switch is 00mstructedsubstantially as follows: It comprises an arm38, pivotally supportedupon a pin 39 to a casing 40, the casing being inset into the horn 38,so as to permitits outer surface to lie flush with the surface of thehorn. It is secured thereto by the screws 41, passing through thecasing. The casing has a recess 42, into which extends aflat spring 43,secured to the casing at its upper end 44. The upper end of the arm 38is provided with a lug or shoulder 45, against which the free The lowerend of 7 end of the spring bears. the arm is provided with a tongue oroffset 46, of less depth or thickness than the arm 38, so that itsexposed surface will be flush with the base of the groove 12, while theexposed surface of the arm 38 is flush with the exposed surface of thepost-horn 35. In other words, the arm 38 is stepped, The lower end ofthe arm is preferably rounded outwardly,

ICC

as at data terminates in a point 48, and

the tongue has a lug 49 and rounded point The tongue is inclineddownwardly relative to the arm, and at the point where itdiverges. fromthe arm the angle is rounded off,

which wall maybe slightly recessed to allow ,the point 48 of the arm 38to bear close up against the said outer wall, and the inner wall of thegroove 12 is recessed at 53 to receive the point 50 of the tongue whenprojected, as hereinafter described, so that in either position the armwill be prevented from shaking,and the alinement of its stepped surfacewith referenceto the exposed surface of the base of the groove 12 andthe horn will be preserved during the manipulation of the sash andpanel.The lower panel 14: is adapted to move bodilyin the groove 12, and whilethe side members of the sash also may extend into the groove 12 and beguided thereby I prefer that the sash have no bearing in. that groove.The trunnions 32 33 34 on the sashextend into the smaller groove 13 andsupport and control it du ring allitsmovements. When the car side isclosed, as indicated in Fig. 3, the basewpanel 14 extends down tothesill4 or to a plate 51, secured to the sill and having a shoulder to bearagainst the inner angle of the lower crossbar of the panel and has beenconformed to the curve of the post The sash then rests with its lowercross-bar 28 upon the upper cross-bar 15 of the panel, the two partsbeing provided with a rib and a recess 56 to make a weather-tightnon-rattling joint, the trunnions 3-1 extending from the lower cross-bar28 into the groove 13, which groove is indi cated in Fig. 2, extendingto a point sufficiently low to permit the sash to rest upon the panelwithout bringing the trunnions to bear on the end of the groove. Theother trunnions also rest in the groove 13, maintaining the sash in itsupright position, the upper cross-bar 27 hearing closely against thelower inside face of the letter-board 8, the uppermost trunnions 32being past the switch.

To convert the car, the sash is raised, the

trunnions moving in the groove 13, which above the point of the switchis widened out at 58 59, preferably up to near its termination at thelower ventilator-rail 3, to prevent binding and also 'to permit the sashwhen stored in the pocket, as illustrated in Fig. 2, to be movedslightly outward, with the edge of its lower cross-bar 23 resting in arecess 60in the face of the letter-board, so as to firmly support it inits stored position. While raising the sash, each of the followingtrunnions strikes the under side of the tongue 16 of the arm 38, forcingit inwardly against the stress of the spring 43, so as to remove boththe arm and tongue from the position across spring43, so that it and itstongue extend across to the groove 13 and its point 48 abutted againstthe outer wall of the groove 13, the surface of the tongue being flushwith the base of the groove 12. On raising the panel 14 the edges of thetop cross-bar 15 will strike against the rounded point 18 of the arm andbe guided along and confined in the groove 12, so that it will safelypass the point of divergence ofthe grooves and the switch. Acontinuation of the upward movement of the panel causes it to conform tothe curve of the groove, which in the roof-pocket is of sufficientlength to receive the panel, Fig. 2. It is clear that to bring thepaneland sash. back into the position shown in Fig. 3 the reverse ofthebefore-stated operation-that is, as to its orderwill occur, the switchautomatically swerving the sash and panel off into their respectivegrooves and permitting the panel to continue in the groove 12. Inaddition to the sash and panel, the former of which. can be raised orlowered independently ofthe panel tosemiconvert the car or employed asan ordinary window, the post is provided with a groove 61, in which thecross-bar 62 of a curtain 63, contained in the curtain-molding '10,moves to close the side openings partly,

as when the sash in the position shown in Fig.3, or wholly when bothsash and panel are raised, as in Fig. 2. it

Having described my invention, I claim-- 1. In a car, the combinationwith the posts and the roof-pockets, of a groove formed in the sides ofthe posts and diverging into separate grooves at or adjacent to theentrance of the pockets, and which separate grooves extend within saidpockets, a plurality of elements for closing the car side movable insaid groove, and a switch for diverting the separate side-closingelements into the diverging branches of said groove, substantially asdescribed.

, 2. In a car, the combination with the posts having the groove 12formed in their faces, the roof-pocket, the said groove entering saidpocket, the groove 13 formed at the base of the groove 12 and divergingtherefrom at and into the pockets, the flexible lower panel movable inthe groove 12, the sash comprising two parts hinged togetherand havingtrunnions extending outwardly therefrom,the said trunnions movingin thegroove 13, and a switch at the point of divergence of the groove 12 fromthe groove 13,for diverting the trunnions into the roof portion of saidgroove, and theflexible panel into the roof-section of the groove 12,substantially as described.

In a car, the combination with the roofpockets having grooves convergingto a single groove on the post, the separable sash and panel movable inthe grooves, a switch comprising an arm provided with a divergent tonguelocated at the convergence of said grooves, and a spring for resistingthe movement of said arm, substantially as described.

4. In a car, the combination with the posts,

the roof-pockets, the grooves 12, 13 formed in the pockets, and a switchcomprising an arm having a divergent tongue with a stepped face disposedin the path of the groove 12, and extending across the groove 13, and aspring operating against the other end of the arm to maintain it in thebefore-stated position, combined with a plurality of separableside-c1osing elements adapted to be diverted into the separate groovesby said switch.

5. The combination in a car-panel, of the upper and lower cross-bar, anda plurality of flexible sheets secured to said cross-bars, one of saidsheets being loosely secured to one of said cross-bars.

6. A flexible car-panel comprising the upper and lower cross-bars, anexterior sheet of flexible self-supporting material extending betweenthe cross-bars on one side, and a like sheet extending between thecross-bars on the other side, and secured to one cross-bar, and looselyattached to the other.

7. A flexible car-panel comprising the upper and lower cross-bars, theouter sheet secured to the top and bottom cross-bar, and a sheet securedto the upper cross-bar, and

loosely receiving the lower edge of the latter sheet.

8. In a car-panel, the combination with the two sheets, the interposedtop and bottom cross-bars, one of the sheets being loosely connectedwith one of the cross-bars at the lower edge of said sheet.

9. In a car-panel, the combination with the parallel sheets, theinterposed top and botbetween the sheets, some of said slats beingsecured to either of the said sheets, and disconnected from the othersheet.

11. In a car-panel,the combination with the parallel and juxtaposedsheets, of the interposed top and bottom cross-bars, and the interposedlateral slats secured to one of said sheets and free as to the opposingsheet.

12. In a car-panel,the combination with the parallel juxtaposed sheets,of the interposed top and bottom cross-bars, the slats arranged inpairs, each pair of slats being secured to one sheet and free as to theother, and another slat interposed between each pair and secured to thelatter sheet and free as to the former sheet.

Signed at the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania,this 16th dayot' January, 1902.

EZRA SANGER BUOKNAM.

Witnesses:

CHAS. G. HENSLEY, SOPHIE SEKosKY.

